The horizontal line represents the person’s life.1724 - born1757 - died

Carleton, SirGuy

, late lord Dorchester, descended from an ancient northern family, which removed
to Ireland, was the third son of Christopher Carleton, of
Newry, co. Down, esq. who died in Ireland about 1738,
leaving a widow who became the third wife of the rev.
Thomas Skelton, brother to the late rev. Philip Skelton,
and died in 1757. Mr. Carleton was born at Strabane, in
Ireland, Sept. 3, 1724, and, according to the biographer
of Philip Skelton, owed his futureeminence in a great
degree to the care which his step-father took of his education. Having embraced a military life, he entered into the
guards, in which corps he continued until the year 1748,
when he was promoted to be lieutenant-colonel of the 72d
regiment. In 1758 he embarked with general Amherst
for the siege of Louisburg, where, and at the siege of
Quebec, in the following year, he was distinguished for
his bravery and good conduct. He was afterwards wounded
for the first time, at the siege of Belleisle, where he acted
as brigadier- general. In Feb. 1762, he was promoted to
the rank of colonel in the army, and soon after embarked
for the siege of the Havannah, where he was likewise distinguished for his bravery, and was wounded in investing
the Moro castle. In Nov. 1766 he was appointed colonel
of the 47th regiment of foot. In April 1772 he arrived at
the rank of major-general, and in May following was appointed governor of Quebec, and was supposed to have
been instrumental in passing the celebrated Quebec bill,
for the government of that settlement.

In 1775, when the American war broke out, general
Carleton had an ample field for the display of his military
talents. The American congress, having resolved to resort
| to arms, began soon to turn their eyes to Canada, where
they knew the late acts were very unpopular, not only
among the British settlers, but the French Canadians themsi-lvrs, who having experienced the difference between a
French and British constitution, gave the preference to the
latter. To co-operate with the disaffected in Canada, and
to anticipate the probable and suspected designs of general
Carleton, the congress formed the bold project of invading
this province. General Montgomery, their commander,
headed the expedition, and proceeded with such vigour,
that he compelled the fort of St. John’s to surrender at
discretion on the 2d of November. Hence, crossing St.
Laurence, he proceeded to Montreal, which being incapable of defence against the American force, general
Carleton evacuated ir, and retired to" Quebec. Having
taken possession of Montreal, Montgomery made dispositions for advancing to besiege the capital of Canada, and
there were several circumstances favourable to his hopes of
success. The works of the town had been neglected for a
long time of peace; the garrison did not exceed 1100, of
which few were regulars, and the majority of the inhabitants were disaffected to the framers of their new constitution, and particularly to general Carleton, who was
supposed to have had a chief hand in that measure. While
he was endeavouring to defend Quebec amidst all these
disadvantages, the American generals Montgomery and
Arnold summoned him to surrender, which he treated with
contempt, and refused to hold any correspondence with
rebels. The inhabitants too, displeased as they were with
their new constitution, joined the British troops with cordial unanimity, and the American commander, unprepared
for a regular siege, endeavoured to take the place by storm.
In this attempt Montgomery fell at the head of his troops,
whom the garrison, after an obstinate resistance, drove
from the town with great loss; and although Arnold encamped on the heights of Abraham, where he fortified
himself, and continued the siege of Quebec in the following
year, 1776, he thought proper to retire on the arrival of
an English squadron. General Carleton being now reinforced by troops, which, added to what he had, formed a
body of 13,Ooo, prepared for offensive operations, and the
Amer cans evacuated their conquests, stationing themselves
at Crown Point, whither the British commander did not
follow them for the present.
| An armament was now prepared for crossing Lake
Champlain, in order to besiege Crown Point and Ticonderago. The Americans had a considerable fleet on Lake
Champlain, whereas the British had not a single vessel.
The general, therefore, used every effort to procure the
requisite naval force; but October was begun before this
was ready to oppose the enemy. On Oct. 11, the British
fleet, commanded by capt. Pringle, and under the general
direction of Carleton, discovered the American armament;
and engaging them, the conflict continued on both sides
for several hours with great intrepidity, but a contrary
wind preventing the chief British ships from taking a part,
and night coming on, it was thought prudent to discontinue
the action, and Arnold took advantage of the night to retreat. The British pursued them the next day and the
following, and overtook them a few leagues from Crown
Point; where, after a furious battle of two hours, they
yielded to our superior force and skill. General Carleton
remained at Crown Point till Nov. 3, and as the winter was
commencing, did not think proper to besiege Ticonderago.
He returned therefore to St. John’s, whence he distributed
his army into winter quarters.

In the following year, 1777, an expedition being planned from Canada, to effect a co-operation with the principal British force, the command of the armament was
conferred on general Burgoyne. Sir Guy Carleton (for he had been made knight of the Bath in July 1776), from
his official situation in Canada, his conduct, and especially his defence of Quebec, might have reasonably expected this appointment; he was an older general, of
more military experience, and better acquainted with the
country, its inhabitants, and resources. His character
commanded greater authority than Burgoyne’s had hitherto
established, and as no military grounds could be alleged
for superseding Carleton to make room for Burgoyne, his
promotion was imputed to parliamentary influence more
than to his official talents. Carleton, disgusted with a
preference by no means merited, as soon as he heard- of
the appointment, resigned his government, in which he
was succeeded by general Haldimand, but before he departed, exerted himself to the utmost to enable Burgoyne
to take the field with advantage.

In August 1777, sir Guy was made a lieutenant-general
in the army, and in 1781 was appointed to succeed sir
| Henry Clinton as commander in chief in America, where
he remained until the termination of the contest, when,
after an interview with general Washington, he evacuated
New-York, and returned to England. In April 176, he
was once more appointed governor of Quebec, Nova Scotia,
and New Brunswick, and, as a reward for his long services,
was in August following raised to the peerage, by the title
of lord Dorchester, of Dorchester in the county of Oxford.
His lordship remained in this extensive government for
several years; and returning at length to England, passed
his old age in the bosom of his family; first at Kempshot,
near Basingstoke, in Hampshire, and afterwards at his seat
near Maidenhead. He died Nov. 10, 1808, aged eightyfive, at which time he was colonel of the fourth regiment
of dragoons, and a general in the army. In 1772 his lordship married lady Maria, third daughter of Thomas Howard
earl of Effingham, by whom he had a numerous issue, and
was succeeded in titles and estate by his grandson Arthur
Henry Carleton, a minor. 1

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